Bridle bit



1949. A. E. WAGNER ET AL 2,460,912

" BRIDLE BIT Filed Sept. 5, 1946 Patented Feb. 8, 1949 Arthur E; Wagnerand Flt-a, euthanasi Pa., assignors to Plas-Tlr -Bi ts, Pa., acorporation of Del were ee-re l a 7 Application September 5, 1546,Serial Ne. 694,878

, i I 1 This invention is bridle bits. I

It is the purpose of this invention to provide a novel form of bridlebit which is humane, rugged, and inexpensive. v V

More specifically, it is-intended to provide a unitary bit of whollynon-metallic construction. Hitherto. it has been proposed to cover themouthpiece of a bridle bit with a soft cushion tube of rubbercomposition, but such a. covering-is not durable and is diflicult tokeep clean, particularly after it has become rough and worn.

Bits have also been used in which the mouthpiece was formed ofvulcanite, although this type of bit likewise has a number ofdisadvantagesand has never been widely accepted. This is probably due tothe fact that vuloanite, which is a hard rubber produced by heatingcaoutchouc or India rubber with sulphur, does not mold precisely,acquires a greenish tone in use and generally deteriorates in qualitywith age.

In making a bit of plastic composition in accordan-ce with the teachingsof the present invention there are a number of requirements to be met inorder to insure an adequate substitute for the metal bits which arecommonly used. A bit should be relatively light in weight, smooth,strong, durable and non-toxic with respect to the animal. In view of thecontinuous biting and clamping action to which the mouthpiece of a. bitis subjected by a horse, it is also essential that the bit possessadequate impact strength. It is also quite desirable, if not absolutelynecessary, to provide a bit mouth-piece which does not frost or chill soas to injure the tongue of a horse when used in very cold weather. Fromthe standpoint of economy in manufacture, it is practically necessarythat any non-metallic composition be moldable. As this quality is animportant feature of the present invention, it will be defined with theparticularity intended. f

Mold or molded" is used in the plastics art and in this specification toconnote that the:

material has gone through a stage of fluidity or softness during whichit has been conformed to the shape of a confining member, and causeddirected to improvements in .ethylce-llulose, which is --the requisitecharacteristics in a high-degree. 'I 'hat-is to say, an ethylcelluloseplastichas expolymeric, combines all cellent molding qualities, isrelatively lightweight (specific;- gravity approximately 1.2), ages veryslightly, is afiected by sunlight, weak acids and weak; all-ralies butslightly, and in addition posl s ,unlimitedcolor possibilities, makingit easy toproduce a bridlev bit. of any permanent color desired, Besidesbeing resistant to ordinary ranges of temperature, the moldedethylcelluloses are very hard fand strong, with low specific heat., 1'illers and binders may be used in ac- ,cordance withpresent plastictechniques.

Therefore, it is a'specific object of this invention to provide a rigid,unitary bridle bit molded from ethylcellulo-se and having structuralfeatures which are advantageous in a bit of this character.

Other novel details and features of improvement will be pointed out inconnection with the following description of a preferred embodimenttaken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a bridle bit;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the bridle bit shown in Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the bit taken on the line 3-3 ofFig. 1.

In the drawings the numeral It refers generally to a bridle bit which isillustrated as being-of the ported type. The bit lllincludes' a. port-edmouthpiece l2 having at-each end a cheek piece I. Eachcheek piece I4 isformed to provide a bridle eye [6 at its upper end, which may be flaredslightly outward in order to prevent sticking the side of the horse'shead. The lower ends of the cheek pieces l4, 14 are formed with rings I8, I8 to receive the bit reins.

In order to give further strength and rigidity to the bit structure itis preferable to connect the lower extremities of the cheek pieces l4,ll with a substantial cross bar 20 which may be curved downwardly inorder to provide greater, clearance. As the junotures of the cross bar20 and the cheek pieces ll, l4 arebelow the rein rings l8, IS, the crossbar will also serve to prevent the rein loops from swinging around tothe forward side of the cheek pieces and entanglement of the cheekpieces when roping.

Additional strength is imparted to the solid bit III by a fillet 22 ofsubstantial size ateach end of the mouthpiece l2 at the point ofjuncture with the inner side of the corresponding cheek piece I. On theouter sides of the cheek pieces l4, N in alignment with the fillets 22,22 large bosses 24, 24 are molded for the purpose of further insuringadequate strength of the integral junctures between the mouthpiece l2and the cheek pieces Hi, I'd.

In describing this invention one typical form of bit and itsconstruction have been used illustrativelfit but his to. beuhderstoodTthat the principles of this invention are applicable to alarge variety of types of bridle bits and that therefore, the inventionin its broader aspect? contemplates any bit of similar molded Therefore,this invention is not tov struction.

be limited to the specific detailsof construction 3 and compositionswhich have been'diseioseigexe cept as may be required by the: scope ofmeanpended claims. i 1 Having thus disclosed our invention what. weclaim as novel and desire to secure byjl' etters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

a I. A unitary, rigid bridle bit of solid? constructlon'com-posed ofmoldedpolymeric plastic and including a -mouthpiec'e and an elongatedcheek piece extending from each end of the mouthpiece and :formed' toprovide spaced" bridle and rein openings. I I

2. A molded, lightweight, non-toxicfbridiebit of solid constructioncomposed of plastici'z'cd 'ethylcelluloseand 1 including a mouthpiece"and an elongated cheek piece extending from each "end ofthe mouthpieceand formed to provide spaced bridle and rein openings; '7 3QA unitary,lightweight, rigid bridle bit" composed of molded lpolynieridplas tic,said bit'j-havthee-heekpieces being reinforced by a fillet at eachrendotfthei' mouthpiece and an aligned boss ing a mouthpiece, a cheek pieceat each end of the mouthpiece, each cheek piece being provided with abridle eye adjacent its upper end and a rein opening adjacent its lowerend, and a crossbar extending between the cheek pieces below the reinopenings thereof.

4. A unitary, lightweight, rigid bridle bit composed ofinoldedilpolymerie v plastic, said'i bit having'a mouthpiece, a cheekpiece'at each end of themouthpiece, each cheek piece being provided-"'wit h 'a bridle eye adjacent its upper end and 9.

opening adjacent its lower end, and a crossbar extending between thelower extremities of "the-cheep pieces below the rein openings thereorthejiinctures between the mouth piece and on theoutside of each cheekpiece.

Number aria ARTHUR E. WAGNER. FORD E. CAMP. REFERENCES oI'rEnThefollowing references are of record in the file'foithis patentz STATESPATENTS 'Neme Date 1725877 etenie -zi Dec; 23, 1875 347,225 BuermannjAug. 10, 1886 v THER-REF RENCES I Catalog No. 32 of the N. Porter Co. ofPhoenix,

